The 29th annual Central Coast Science Fair honored standout students who reached great scientific heights on May 30 and 31.
Mentoring provided by engineers and scientists from Vandenberg Air Force Base helped students create the projects on display at this year’s event. More than 200 students took part in the science fair this year, marking a 35 percent increase in participants over last year.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services gave a presentation on the real-life world of crime scene investigators on May 31. After a lesson in fingerprinting and DNA collection, a tech-savvy Orcutt Academy Spartatroniks Team provided the crowd with a demonstration of their student-built competition robot. Following these events, the Cabrillo High School Aquarium Program offered hands-on demonstrations involving marine life.
An awards reception was held for students whose projects stood out, and more than $1,000 in cash prizes and awards were presented to students who earned recognition by working hard and creating spectacular science projects.
Under the category of STEM Demonstration Projects, first place was awarded to eighth graders William Knight, Pluim Lucas, and Jacob Maglinte of Vandenberg Middle School for their creation: Scientific Imagination Materialized—A “Portal” Turret. Kaiona Martinson, a sixth grader from La Cañada Elementary School, was given first place under the Scientific Process Projects category for What Type of Cheesecake is the Best?
The Hal Seggerman Award was presented to Maggie Gallup, a seventh grader from Vandenberg Middle School, for her project: Hot Air Balloon Experiment; Devin Hackman, another seventh grader from the same school, was given the David Covell Aeronautical Award for his venture, Hovercraft Bases.
The event was sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Vandenberg Section, the world’s largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace professional, along with a handful of other donors and contributors.
This article appears in Jun 5-12, 2014.